Overhead trolley system



Dec. 28, 1943.

Filed April 3, 1942 w. J. LEWIS OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEM '2 Sheets-Sheet1 v 4/ za, 1 J J ,44

Zhwentor attonieg v WARREN J Lmy'zs Dec. 28, 1943. 'w J Ew s I 2,337,827

OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEM Filed April 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3npentorWAEIEEN, J LEWIS Patented Dec. 28, 1943 OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEM WarrenJ. Lewis, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The OhioBrass Company, Mansfield,Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 3, 1942, Serial No.437,556

Claims.

This invention relates to overhead trolley systems and in its morespecific aspects is directed to a relay actuated switching device forcurrent collectors.

The object of this invention is to construct a trolley frog whose tongueelement is relay actuated and with which delaying mechanism isoperatively connected to positively assure the actuation of the tongueshifting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relay actuated tongueshifting device in which the vehicle current collectors selectivelyactuate said relay and in which an accidental reopening of the relaycircuit is prevented until the vehicle has passed the trolley frog.

Another object of the invention is to construct a trolley frog whosetongue element is relay actuated and whose control circuit includes asafety device to insure a positive shifting of the tongue element.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a positivelyactuated relay type of trolley frog shifter and which will preventunintentional operations thereof. 1

Another and still further object of the invention is to provide in aresetting relay type frog shifting device a control circuit that willshunt the relay such that any are potential between collector and wirewill not cause the relay to operate and shift the tongue element whensuch movement is not desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a trolley frogshifter that is relay actuated and in which the effect of any arepotential formed between the current collector and the trolley iscompletely eliminated.

Other and further objects of the invention will occur to those skilledin the arts to which this invention pertains as the description proceedswhich taken in connection with the accompanying drawings sets forth apreferred embodiment of the invention and selected modificationsthereof, but such disclosures are not to be construed as a limitation ofthe invention which .is limited only by the appended claims and any andall modifications, alterations and variations of structure coming withinthe spirit and scope thereof are deemed to be included herein.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevational view of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view incorporating the modification ofFig. 2.

which means is embodied in a latch elements I So,

Fig. 4 shows a. detail sectional view along I and 2 designateconventional frog elements to which trolley wires 3, 3 are secured andfromwhich wires 5, 5 are lead in a straight through direction and 4, 4branch off as turn-off or curve wires. A tongue element 1 is arranged oneach of the frog pans l and 2,. pivoted thereto at 8, which selectivelyconnects the wires 3, 3 to either xi, 4 or 5, 5 depending upon theadjusted position of the tongue elements I, l. I

The moving vehicle (not shown) has the usual current collectors 9, 9aarranged thereon in the conventional manner that are adapted to engagetherespective trolley wires 3,.3 and as indicated above. tongue elements1, 7 direct the current collectors 9, 9a selectively on to the branch orcurve trolley wires 4, i or the straight through wires 5, 5. In order tomaintain'the frog pans I and 2 in proper spaced relationship a pair ofstrain elements 6, 5 is arranged'therebetween to maintain the saidspaced relationship which is coincident with the spacing of the currentcollectors 9, 90..

Means have been provided for the shifting of the tongue elements 1, 1 toline up with either of the wires, 4 and 5, 5, as indicated above,

coils H, II, each of which has a plunger M that is mechanically linkedto the tongue elements 1, I

by a bar or linkage schematically shown at l5,

l5. A latching means is shown at I511, Ilia pivotally supported at l6,[8 by means of bar elements I5b, liib which are kept in a retractedposition by means of springs l1, ll; each of the I511. receive the barlinkage 55 on one side of it when the switch is set for straight throughand on its opposite side when set for curve. The particular illustrationdiscloses a conventional re-set type of mechanism which I originates ina pair of pivoted elements l2, 12 that are mechanically linked to theplungers M, M of actuating coils ll, ll by means of the linkage I3.Re-set mechanisms l2, I! are engaged by the current collectors 9, 9a torestore the tongue elements 1,, l to the straight through positionfollowing eachpassage of the Vehicle to the turn-off position.

Arranged adjacent each of the trolley wires 10 and Illa. that are placedpair of actuating has, gone into such an' extent as will to the turn-offposition before collector 9 eng;

gages with contactor l0. quired for shifting 26 must not exceed the timeinterval it takes collector 9a to travel the-lead distance of 9a over 9lessdistance A.; In the normal operation of the vehicle while turning itwill cause collector 9a to advance much more rapidly The time intervalrethan collector 9 will advance and thereby bring it into contact withcontactor llla'be-j fore collector 9 engages with contactor ID. Theengagement of collector 9a with contactor Illa. establishes a circuitthrough conductors I8, I80, resistance 23, coil 24, and conductor 25 tothe opposite trolley wire 3, it being noted thatone of these trolleywires is the positive and the other-is the negative wire. The circuit'just described is completed in order tofshift switch 26 by means ofcoil 24 from the full line position to the'dotted line position in Fig.I and constitutes a holding circuit therefor until broken by collector9a leaving contactor Illa. Followihgthe closing or shifting of switch 26to'the dotted line position, a circuit is established through theactuating coils ll, H as follows: .wire 3, collector 9a, contactor Illa,conductor 18 thence by means of conductor I9 through the coil on one ofthe actuators H, conductor andfthence through to switch 26 and conductor28 over to the opposite trolley wire by means of jcollector Sandcontactor 10 after collector9'has engaged contactor ID. Since the otheractuatlingjcoijl 'l l is in parallel with the ,coil just do-.fsc'ribed,its .circuit will be through conductors f l.8,jl8a, 2 2; 22and the coil H, conductor 2| and switch 26 through to conductor 28totheioppos it etrolly wirejby means ot contactor Land collector. 9, itbeing understood, tr "coursfthat by the time this circuit is completedcollector"?! v engagement with the contactor l9 "aspreviously.explained.

, Attention is at this point'invited to thefact ,that. resistance 23 v p:value. The reason for this is that it'will beable "to withstand ratedvoltage, usually 600 v., with- :ontburning'out. When the frogs are to,remain in the "straight through position both] collectors is [of 'acomparatively high will substantially, simultaneously, engage therespective contactors.v thereby imposing full voltjag'e across-23 whichis in series'withthe switch 26 In view of the high resistance only asmall current'will bedrawn' during the interval ofconftact' betweencollectors 9, 9a and contactors I9, 1M. l,

has ,been'p'ointed'out before that the, tongue elements 1, Tare restoredto the straightfthrough 'position 'by means of the re s'e't mechanismsI2, 112 "following the passage of the vehicle underneaththetrolleyfrogs. During the approach of "the vehicle, assuming that it isjtocontinue on the: straight ahead 'path, both collectors 9 and fla will at-sul'istanti'ailly the sametime engage their respective. contactorslfl'and""l9a which iaction -will preventith'e shifting of' switch 26because a circuit will be established alcrosSFthe line between thecontactors l0 and 'lflaby'means switch 26 will have of conductors l8,l8a, resistance 23, conductor 21, switch 26 and conductor 28. Thiseffectively shunts out coil 24 and prevents its actuation.

Assuming that the vehicle approaching the frog pans l and 2 is to turnoff on wires 4, 4 then collector 90. will engage contactor lOa. asufiicient time ahead of the engagement of collector 9 with, contactor10 to establish the operating circuit for coil 24, described above. Thenby the time collector 9 has engaged contactor l0, been shifted to thedotted line position thereby closing the circuits through coils H, H andshifting tongues 1, 1 to the turnoffposition. When collector 9a breakscontact with contactor Ilia the holding circuit for coil 24 willj bebroken, thereby shifting switch 26 back to the full line position anddeenergizing coils II, II such that when collectors 9 and 9a engagereset mechanisms I2, 12 the tongues 1, 1 will be shifted to the straightthrough position. It is necessary, however, that both contactors l0,Illa be in engagement with their respective collectors 9, 9a beforecoils H, H are energized. The action just previously described gets'thecircuit ready for closing by contactor l9 engaging collector 9.

A modification of the above structure is dis closed in Figs. 2, 3 and 4in which frog pans 26 and 21 are provided to which trolley wires 28, 23are secured and from which trolley wires 30 and 30 branch off, as shown,and from which trolley wires 3|, 3| lead ed for the straight throughposition. Each of the frog pans 26 and 21 is provided with shiftabletongue elements 32, 32 pivoted at 33, 33 to guide current collectors 9,9a selectively on to the straight through wires 3f; 3| or the turn-offwires 30, 30.

' Means have been provided for mechanically resetting. the tongueelements 32, 32 to the straight through position after'the passage of'the'vehicle on the turn-'ofi position and it em- .ploys mechanismsimilar to that described above which constitutes re-set levers35, 35which are connected by means Of linkages 36,36 to the fplungers 31', 31of coils 34, 34 and the opposite end of the plungers 31, 31, isconnected to the linkage -56 fixedly secured at one end to the shiftabletongue elements 32, 32. The members 66, 53 are held in position bylatches 40, 49 fixed to bars 40a,'49a pivoted at 39, 39 cooperating withs prings 38, 38 that hold latches 4U, 40 in retracted position in thesame manner as springs l1, l1 above.

" Attention is invited to the fact that in the modifications, thecontrol coils, switch and resistance 23, 24 and 26 have been replaced bysimple make and break switches 4| and 42, that are actuated by tiltableor pivoted contactor elements46 and :41. Attention is further invited tothe fact that each of these contactors 46 and 41 is of varying length,as indicated by the distance A' which is .determined'in a manner similarto the distance 'A described in connection with Fig. 1 above. Anyvehicle approachingthe trolley frogs and :desiring to go on the branchtrolleys 30, 30 will be positioned underneath the trolley frogs suchthat collector 9a will be considerably advanced ahead of the'collector"9 for reasons set forth conductor 45 through switch 42 andthence to the opposite trolley wire 28. This action will shift thetongue elements 32, 32 to the turn-off position and permit thecollectors 9 and 9a to followrestored to their straight throughposition. At-

tention is invited to the fact that switch 4| is normally open andswitch 42 is normally closed.

Distance B in Fig. 3 shows the distance contactor 4b is pivoted ahead ofcontactor 41. The reason for this displacement is that if collector 9should disengage contactor 47 before 9a disengages 46 there would be ashifting of the tongue elements causing a false or undesired operationof the frog. By advancing the pivot 50 of contactor 46 switch 4| willopen before switch 42 is closed and thereby prevent an undesiredoperation.

Assuming that the vehicle with collectors 9 and 9a desires to continuein the straight ahead position on to wires 3|, 3|, it should be observedthat collectors 9, 9a will approach and practically, substantially,simultaneously engage the respective contactors 45 and 41, and whereascollector 9a in its movement will close switch 4! thereby normallyclosing the shifting circuit, yet before the coils 34, 34 can beenergized the circuit will have been broken by collector 9 engagingcontactor 41 thereby breaking the shifting circuit. It should beapparent from this description that the functioning of the actuatingcoils 34, 34 is not dependent upon the opening or closing of any switchby a coil or upon a potential being imposed across an arbitraryresistance and even if any arcs are formed between the collectors 9, 9aand their respective contactors, they will not influence in any way thefunctioning of the device. Furthermore, since the engagement ofcontactors 46 and 47 with collectors 9 and 9a, is a strictly mechanicalfunction the possibility of arcing will, as a natural result, beprevented and the shifting of the tongue elements will be entirelydependent, therefore, upon the mechanical action of the contactors andthe respective collectors. As previously indicated, the space ordistance A, which represents the difference in efiective length of therespective contactors subtracted from the lag of collector 9 behind 9a,affords the space-time interval in which coils 34, 34 can shift therespective tongue elements 32, 32 to the turn-off position beforecontactor 4? is shifted by collector 9 thereby breaking the circuit atswitch 42.

Figs. 2 and 4 disclose in a little greater detail the functioning andconstruction of the switches M, 42 and their relationship to thecontactors 46 and 4?, it being observed as previously indicated that thetwo contactors are of diiferent lengths. Each of the contactors 46 and41 comprises initially a pivoted arm 59 as indicated Whose pivot pin 59is fixed in the tip of the frog pan 26. The right-hand end of thecontactor may be variously angled, such as to vary the opening orclosing time of the respective switches 4| and 42. The distance orlength, indicated X, of the contactor lies in a single straight line orplane and is of such an extent that there will be ample time, duringpassage of a Vehicle, for the collector to hold the contactor in anelevated position for the coils 34, 34 to function thereby shiftingtongues 3 32, 32 to the turn-off position by means of plungers 31, 37.The contactor arm 46 is further provided with a cross member 48 thatrests upon the trolley wire 28 and prevents the contactor arm fromdropping too far below the horizontal plane of trolley wires 28, 2&1.vAfter the passage of the collector, each of the contactors 46, 41 isrestored to their initial position as shown in Fig.4 by means ofgravitational action.

Fixed to the tip of frog pan 26 is a bracket element 5| that issubstantially H-shaped and in which the cross element of the H more orless snugly engages with the upper portion of the projection on tip 26and by placing the pivot pin 59 through the apertures. provided in thebracket element 5| and in th tip, it will hold the two in a firmly fixedrelationship and render the two elements immovable with respect to eachother. For the convenience of securing 59 on pin 59, it is provided withear 59, 59a and the entire assemblage is held in place by means of apair of conventional cotter pins. Fixed to the left-hand end of thecontactor arm 59 is a bracket 49 secured thereto by welding or any otherconventional mode of attachment. Bracket 49 is pivoted with respect to aswitch holder 54 by means of a pin or pintle 53 fixed in the switchholder 54. Holder 54 is pivoted with res spect to bracket 5! by means ofpins 52, 52

Secured to the upper part of the switch holder 54 is switch ii and inthe particular illustration this is shown as a mercury switch, althoughany other form of'switch may be substituted in lieu thereof. The switch41 is fastened to the holder 54 by means of an appropriate clampingelement 55. t should be evident from an inspection of the structure setforth in Figs.,2- and 4 and from the description above that as thecontactor arm 49 is elevated by its corresponding current-cob lector 9athat it will pivot about the pin 5%, and bracket 49 engaging with pin 53by means of its slotted end, as shown, will tip holder 54 to a forwardposition, causing the mercury in the switch M to engage or close thcircuit through the leads 5? and 58 that correspond to conductor 43connecting to the one end of switch ti and the other representing theconnection to the trolley 28. Mechanism used in conjunction with contactor 4i may be identical with that of contactor 46 with the exceptionthat the switch 52 would be normally closed when holder 54 holds switch42 in the horizontal position, and when the contactor 47 is elevated bythe collector 9, the switch 42 is brought to a tilted position by theholder 54 but would open the circuit with respect to the leads 5'! and58 that are fastened in the switch element 42. The mechanicalfunctioning of the two devices is substantially the same. It must beborne in mind in any event that under normal conditions switch M is openand switch 42 is closed.

In each of the disclosures above, it is very essential that therespective lengths of contactors Ill and, Illa and 48 and 41 beproportioned such that irrespective of the angle of the turn-off, thecoils H, H and 34, 34'will have ample time to become energized tothereby permit the shifting of the tongue elements to the turn-offposition. It is thought apparent, therefore, that a trolley shiftingmechanism has been provided that is positive in its action and willprevent any unintentional shifting of the tongue elements and that issimple and economical in its construction and maintenance.

. .A structural variation of. the embodiment of curve after passage ofcollectors 9a,

"Fig: 1 is set forth in Fig. 5 in which the evice 'is normally'setforcurve operatiomand is shifted to straight line and thereafter resets tocurve operation. Structures of this type are used at such places wherethe bulk of traflic turns off and'only a small percentagecontinuesstraight through. The' structure detail of Fig. 5 appearing in Fig.l'has been designated by primed numbers and since thecircuits involvedvary slightlyfrom thatof Fig. 1 different numerals have been assigned tocircuit parts-in order to more easily point out the operation. 7

coils are energized they will'draw the plungers I I4, Hi to the left'andmove the tongues "l', l to the straight thr'ough'position. Resetmechanisms l2, l2 will restore the tongues I, 1 to reset devices I2, 12being connected to plungers l4, l4-bylinkages l3, I3; l V

Assume'a vehicle carrying collectors 9, 9a is approaching theswitch orfrog pans I I and it is intended to have them turn off on wires 4', 4,the collectors 9', 9a will substantially, simultaneously engagecontactors l, Illa which will establish a circuit including contactorl0, conductor I53, resistance 23', conductors 64 and 61, switch 26;conductor 65 and contactor Illa. This effectively shunts out coil 24'and prevents the shifting of switch 26' to the dotted line position andpreventing the energization of coils H, II. If the vehicle carryingcollectors 9, 9a is to continue-straight ahead then collector 9' willfirst contact contactor Ill and this will establish a circuit throughcoil 24 by means of'conductors '63, B4 and 60' including resistance 23'.Switch 26' will then be shifted to the dotted line position. Distance A'is required to be of such length that there will be ample time for coil24 to be energized to shift switch 26 to the dotted lineposition andupon 9a contacting Ina a circuit is established through coils 'l I; llincluding contactor l0, conductors 62, BI, 65, switch 26' and conductor66, and thence to contactor Illa. The contactor Illa and I6 have to beof such length as to enable coils H, I ["to become fully energized'such'thatplungers' l4, l4 may move bars or linkages l, [5 to theopposite sides'of latches 1 5a, I5a and shift tongues 1', 1' to thestraight through position. As previously indicated, reset mechanisms I2,l2 will restore the tongues to their curve position.

The operation of all parts of the structure is identical with that ofFig. 1 except as to the order of operation. a

It should be evident that since the construction of Fig. 1 maybenormally set to the curve position by the changes shown in Fig. 5, thata corresponding alteration of Fig. 3 will enable it to be normally setto curve. That which is regarded new, novel anduseful and which issought to be protected byLetters Patent of the United States is asfollows,

- Iclaim: l

1. In a trolley switching system; a pair of frog pans held in a spacedrelationship; 'a shiftable tongue on each of said pans; a singleuni-directional acting coil on each of said pans to shift said tonguesin one direction; straight through trolley wires connected to'eachof-said pans and tone-pair of trolley wires branching off ofsaidstraight'thro'ugh wires; contactors associated with the trolley wires onthe approach side of said pans substantially equidistant therefrom, "oneof-said' contactors being of greater length 'than'the other; a controlcircuit for said coils; a relay contact in'said control circuit; acircuit said relay and including a resistance controlling element; saidrelay actuable from the shorter of said contacts and adapted when saidshorter one is contacted by a current collector engaging its associatedtrolley wire prior to a cooperating collector engaging said longercontact and its associated trolley wire to close said coil circuit, suchthat when said longer contactor is subsequently engaged by the collectorengaging its associated trolley wire prior-to disengagement of thecollector with said shorter contactor it will complete said coilcircuits to shiftsaid tongue elements; and mechanically actuated resetmeans to shiftsaid tongue elements back to their original positionfollowing passage of said collectors.

2. In a trolley shifting device; a pair of frog pans held in spacedrelationship; a pair of trolley wires connected to one end of each ofsaid pans andtwo pairs of trolley wires connected to the other end ofsaid pans; a shiftable tongue element associated with each of said pans;a single uni-directional acting coil associated with each of said pans;plungers in each of said coils linked to said tongues; a contactorassociated with each wire of said pair of trolley wires substantiallyequidistant from said pans; one of said contactors being of greaterlength than the other but in which the trailing ends thereof are intransverse alignment; means to shift said tongue elements including acircuit in which said coils are adapted to be connected across saidtrolley wires; .21. control circuit for said means including arelayandaresistance connectible in series with said. relay adapted tolconnectsaid coils across said. trolley wires; said resistance connectableacross saidacontactors during normal operation; a pairofvehiclesupported current collectors engageable with said pair oftrolley wires; said short contactor being firsteng-aged by acollectorwhen said vehicle is turning; thereby actuating saidrelay such thatwhensaid other collector engages the longer contactor the coil circuitwill be closed,.the respectivellengths of said con.- tactors determiningthe length of time said coils are connected tosaid trolley wires,thereby shiftingwsaid' tongue-elementsyandreset means engageable by saidcollectors acting through said plungers to shift said tongue elements totheir griginal position following passage of said collecors.

3. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of pan elements each includinga shiftable tongue element; trolley wires associated with the approachside of said pans; contactors associated with said trolley wires;current collectors movable along said trolley wires engageable with saidcontactors; a uni-directional coil and plunger device on each of saidpans to shift said tongue elements; a circuit for said coils including aswitch and connectible across said trolley wires; a control circuit forsaid circuit which includes a resistance and a coil to actuate saidswitch; said control circuit energized when one of said collectorsengages its corresponding contactor ahead of the other and adapted toshift said switch to said coil circuit, said plungers and coilsenergized onlyafter both said contactors are en gaged by saidcollectors; and when said contactors are engaged substantiallysimultaneously by said collectors said switch coil being shunted by saidswitch whereupon said resistance and said switch are connected in seriesand across said contactors thereby preventing energization of said coil.

4. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of frog pans having shiftabletongues thereon; a trolley wire connected to the approach end of saidpans and having straight through and curve Wires attached to the otherend of said pans; said tongue elements being normally set to curveposition; a single acting electromagnetic means on each pan to shiftsaid tongues to straight through position a control circuit for saidelectromagnetic means, including a relay and a resistance; contactorsassociated with the approach side trolley Wires; collectors slideablealong said Wires; one of said collectors engaging one of said contactorsto establish a circuit through said circuit through said relay andresistance to shift the switch controlled by said relay such that onlywhen the other of said collectors engages the other of said contactorssaid electromagnetic means will be energized to shift said tongues tostraight through position, and when both said contactors aresimultaneously engaged by both said collectors a circuit is establishedthrough said resistance to shunt out said relay; and reset means actingthrough said electromagnetic means to restore said tongues to curveposition.

5. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of frog pans held in spacedrelation; a shiftable tongue on each pan; a trolley wire connected tothe approach end of each pan and a curve and straight through trolleywire connected to the other end of each pan; said tongues normally setto curve position; a uni-directional solenoid and plunger mounted oneach pan, said plungers connected to said tongue elements; a circuit forsaid solenoids including a relay switch; a control circuit for saidrelay including a resistance element; a contactor associated with eachapproach trolley wire; collectors slideable along said trolley wires;said tongue directing said collectors along said curve or straightthrough trolley wire; said switch shunting said relay when bothcontactors are simultaneously engaged by said collectors, and When oneof said collectors engages its corresponding contactor ahead of theother a circuit is established through said relay and said resistancethereby shifting said switch such that only when both collectors engageboth said contactors said solenoids will be energized to thereby shiftsaid tongues to straight through position and means acting through saidplungers to return said tongues to curve position after passage of saidcollectors.

WARREN J. LEWIS.

